Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-15
The Samoan IslandS.
SOME PECULIARITIEs OF THE COUNTRY AND THE
NATIVES.

SOME PECULIARITIEs OF THE COUNTRY AND TN
NATIVES
From the New York Times.
The news Of trouble In the Samoan Islands and
the removal Of the king has brought most vividly
to the mind OF the writer some pleasant day.
passed in that most picturesque Of mid-oceaI
island groups. Right In the middle of the grand
old ocean, with its beautiful blue waters Amos,
unfa.homable, until some bright mind thought
OF using piano wire to ascertain 1t:
up d IN
nearer approach disclOses dense woods, with
green fertile patches dotted here and there with
inside the Coral reefs, behind whose shelter til
safest Of anchorages can be found, he is sur.
prised to see good-sized villages well nlled with
clothed IN ones right mind, with the addition of 8
breech clout for adults, was at one time the only
covering required. The simaiictty OF manner
which has been mentioned by numerous early
explorers who visited the island still exists more
especially among those who live away from thf
villages, and whose ideas show an almost utteI
want OF what TO US are the conventi0naltties
Numerous were the hearty laughs we had over
their attempts at copying their European visitors
and the utter failures which attended theiI
efforts.
The color Of the natives is, as rule, dark olive
The better class, however, are much lighter. The
men are tall and well formed, giving one rather q
false idea OF being quite athletic. We saw moth.
ing during our visit TO indicate their excelfng In
sport OF any kind. The women are generally
I
and the most laughing, good-humored creatures
Imaginable. Some OF The chiefs have two or more
wives, but polygamy is rather the exception than
the rule. and even when there is more than one
wife separate establishments are provided for each.
The great evenness Of climate makes two crops
per year possibility, and should some enter
prising parties undertake practical farming In
Samoa there are immense returns to be had. But
I'm climate where the temperature Is always be-
element toward the carrying out OF the extensive
agricultural schemes, and the principal exports
are "coppra, or the dried meat Of the cocoanut
cotton. Nearly all the trade is controlled by some
Hamburg houses, and the Germans are by far the
most numerous OF the foreigners. 1t seems strange
TO hear that they are the ones making the present
trouble. Possibly all the privileges they have
been heretofore enjoying were somewhat abro-
the establishing OF one more favorably disposed in
his place.
One OF the never-failing sources OF delight dur
watch the wonderful display Of dexterity on the
part OF the islanders In handling their canoes,
scores OF which We're daily plying about the snip
full headway as though one would go right
through the other, when by dexterOus move
81 1se Inc OF TIE 61 would
OF her course TO avoid accident. From this great
skill the Samoan Islands were named 0rchipei DIES
mdvtgateurs, and they to-day are called In addition
Islands. Commander Meade visited the islands
when In command OF the steamer Narragansett
In getting the chiefs to place the har-
Dor Of PangO Pango under the protec-
tion OF the United States Government with q view
toward establishing coaling station there, 1t be-
ing on the direct route between America and Aus
tralia In the future it will probably play an I'm
portant part, as the harbOr is completely land
locked. and has an entrance clear OF rocks and
water for the largest vessels A special agent was
sent out after the return OF the Narragansett TO
negotiate the extension Of the proJectOrate over
all the islands, as their value to Us is beyond any
question greater than IL can possibly be TO any
other nation, but In 1875 native chief was elected
king, and our special mission ended BY the agent
becoming prime minister to the king. The latter
has shown numerous instances OF friendly feeling
to the United States, and has granted permission
TO establish naval and coaling station there OF